Is 31/32 too late for an MBA?

Turning 25 today and I am thinking about my career path. I am currently doing a PhD and will probably finish at the age of 27/28. Assuming things go well I will go to those big Pharma/science firm rotational programme for 3 years. I will then apply and start B-School at the age of 31/32. Is it too late at that point? Will it negatively impact my application? I already have 2.5 years of science (Big Pharma/Biotech Startup/Research organisation) experience though. If it is not a possible path please do let me know. I will think again about my future career.

Any career advice is also appreciated.

13 Comments
 

Will MBA be a viable option for career switch? Potentially to IB or CorpFin type role? After my PhD I’ll look for business type rotational scheme to strengthen my MBA application. 

 

If you’re interested in biopharma, there’s a successful MD at the bank I summered who has a PhD and MBA. Not sure what the timeline was but the PhD is from a top school.

I’d actually recommend reaching out to people that have similar backgrounds. They’ll be much more realistic about what a career in the space looks like. While it might be hard for an undergrad to get time talking to an MD or whatever, a shared background like this will help start a conversation.

 

Thanks for your reply. You have got a point there. I will see if I can talk to someone with such background.

 

If you're already doing a PhD... I think MBA doesn't give you a lot of value tbh

You might be able to get the same exits out of PhD already, e.g. consulting, banking, including internships.

 

Thanks for the reply. I am doing my PhD in the UK and we do not have long holidays/breaks here so getting an internship is almost impossible.I think it will be difficult to get a job out of PhD without an internship though.

 

I personally know a UK PhD (well, DPhil) that was interviewing for summer internships in banking, pretty sure consulting too (LEK maybe)

I don't know how your PhD is structured, but I'm pretty sure it can be done

 

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